IR-Couple's Weekend to Oberon

For the first time in my life I surrendered my luggage/tank bag to the 'support vehicle' and was promptly left without money after filling up at the petrol station. Luckily the servo was just 50m from the carpark, so I could quickly 'do a runner' across and retrieve the purse. Jogging in three layers of clothing, leathers and bike boots is quite an experience!

Then there was that moment of panic, when the first incling of slowly drying lips started to invade my attention. Oh how I miss my lippy! Where is my lippy?

It's in the bag, along with the big 3kg shifter and that nasal spray I relied upon for several days now and then there was the unthinkable: the wet weather gear!

Immediately after I realised that I was traveling bar wets, big bad rain clouds appeared on the horizon of an otherwise perfectly blue sky. Just my luck!

And then there is my camera... also so very neatly and safely tucked away under a doubly locked, solid ute booth cover. So this time I'll have to rely on other people's point of view. Thank goodness Chris had his amazing Nikon out and about and other members had a good go at visually documenting the trip.

Here is one of Chris' fabulous angles. Getting to this bridge was to come to some kind of a turning point of the trip. "Unfreezing the fingertips", I'd call it, or "crossing the devide", as the weather turned dry and sunny from here on in.
(CAK's money shot)

This bridge is crossing over a dry riverbed, which caused Skipp to take his new multi purpose bike off road for some stunt shots. Jen told me that she used to swim there as a kid. Now there is not a drop of water in sight.

From here to Goulburn was probably my favourite part of the trip. Sunshine gave at the very least the illusion of warmth. The roads were dry, but so were the valleys, covered in golden grasses, drought affected thin stalks without a hint of sustenance. This is sheep country...as far as the eye can see from the top of windy ridges. At times we were struggling to keep a straight line, leaning our bodies and machines into cold merciless gusts.

It was a different climate all together, yet, it's been only about 150 km south-east since we had somewhat reluctantly left behind the warmth and cosy hospitality of DJ's Cafe for a wet and icy morning in Oberon.

We can't say that we were'nt warned. The previous day, after our glorious stopover in the Blue Mountains, were we were able to enjoy the misty blue tinged vista across those rugged cliff faces at the Skyrail lookout (I never knew it existed!), the group headed to Hampden, where we stopped for a slow and ordinary (did anyone actually order the 'Willy Burger'?) bistro lunch, before heading to the Jenolan Caves, people had laughed in our faces:

"Oberon is were you're heading? No way! That's were they predicted snowfalls if not today, then tomorrow!"

One of the things that people seem to pick up on is how exposed we are to the elements and they are usually quick to deliver local advice like that. Over the years I have come to trust and value this. It hardly ever happens when you rock up in a car...

The road into Jenolan Caves was tight, wet and bumpy. I remembered doing this road in a car and at times had tourist buses almost forcing me off the road. This time, on the bike, it was no different. The cars appeared out of nowhere and leaving little space for motorcyclists close to the edge.

A magical view of the teal coloured river below, the entrance to the little tourist town via a tunnel in the mountain and a fine hot chocolate in front of the blazing fire place made it all worth while.

A couple of riders decided to make a break for it up the hill and they actually got snowed upon. I did think at the time of our departure that the wet roads had a bit of a texture to it... but then... I was busy getting arount those tight 15s that felt more like 5s, especially with those extra layers of clothing restricting movement and my lovely pillion man adding a little extra weight to the bike. It was an adventure!

Joey and I stuck together for the last leg to Oberon. It was a cold, wet and slippery trip ... a real battle. You can imagine how nice it was when we finally arrived at the cabins and discovered that the heaters had been left on for our arrival! Now, that's courtesy!

A mix-up saw the group split in two for dinner. Some of us ended up in the pub and others in the RSL club. We almost did not make it to the RSL, had we trusted the advice from a couple of youngsters working late in a bakery. They tried to send us the opposite way and it was only when we found that they were hiding behind the counter that we realised what was happening. Fun in Oberon!

It was a nice brisk walk in the fresh cold air. Our meals were average, but the drinks made up for it. They were plentyful and only really hit me when I sat down on the chair in front of the blazing fire place, once we arrived to meet the rest of the group, at the pub. The fires are always spectacular in country pubs!

The man and I took off before the lovely waitress, driving the courtesy bus, could take us back to the cabins. As we walked through the night, along deserted back streets, we heard hoons in the distance, noisily driving and skidding cars with rusty exhausts around town. Fun in Oberon!

Time to get some sleep!

We actually got the better deal when we chose that double bed. Our lovely flatmates, Jess and Jemma ended up in the triple bunk and both being quite tall, they felt a bit cramped. However, they were lovely about it and great company. Next time we owe them to at least draw straws....

That brings us back to the start of the day and the rest is history.

The group went on to the Pieshop, but Daimo and I went straight up the highway and when we turned off towards Appin and Bulli Pass, we almost had a head-on with a woman in a BMW, whose momentary lapse of reason made her decide to use the off ramp to get onto the freeway. Scary!

Only one other time did I encounter someone mistaking my lane as theirs and that was one of the man's first pillion trips with me. I blame him, since he is the only common denominator I can think of... we had a good laugh in the end! (comedy = danger + time)

The best thing about the 'Couple's Ride' was that no-one whined. Everyone seemed to be able to grin and put up with it. I saw one of the female pillions uncontrollably shaking, blue lips and shattering teeth and all she had to say was: 'Bah it's cold!' It took her at least 15 minutes to warm up, but not one word of blame or disappointment.

In fact, when we said our good byes at Goulburn, one thing seemed to be common to all of us... a big smile on our faces and a resounding echo of

"That was just great! Let's do it again - sometime soon!"

Yep, it was very nice to see some new faces (sorry Joy and Tanya, for momentarily forgetting where I knew you from). Jason (Likeatiger) you rock! Coming all the way to Taralga to meet up with us! Thanks to Noeline, in the support ute, driving my gear up (not down!...and I have to really plan this well ahead of time if I ever decide to hand over any of my luggage again) and JB and your hot legged, trendsetting wife Bernadette...thank you for meeting us, if only accompanying us for a short while and of cause a huuuuuge THANK YOU to DZ Damien for his immaculate organisation and guidance and last, but not least: daZippas for keeping the mob together as the dutiful and dependable tail-end-charly.

Yeah, let's do that again sometime...

P.S.: daMan loved it!

some of my favourite pictures so far:
DaSkipp's bad (helmet hair)

Bikes at the Caves